“He likes to get forward and I’m not sure (Fabregas) gives you that. What Fabregas does do, though, is give you the ability to knock the balls around.

“They desperately need someone in there. There are one or two players missing at the moment. Ashley Young is out injured, Antonio Valencia is not on the Far East tour, Ryan Giggs is not getting any younger and Paul Scholes is gone.

“People were screaming last season for a midfield player to come in, and this year the need is even greater.”

Another ex-Manchester United stalwart, defender Denis Irwin, agrees with Macari’s comments that United need to strengthen in midfield.